Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-05-12
st1soSRr rN AMERICA.



The Masonic order had It's authorized |
initiation In this country In 1888 in Massa-
chusetts The Pennsylvania Grand
Lodge was organized In 1884, with Benja-
min Fnarklin as grand master. The
fiTst lodge in Maryland of which there IL |
any kno Wedge was formed In 1850 ct |
Annapolis, under authority of the Grand
Lodge Of Massachusetts,. There are
records Of an old lodge at Leonardtown
In 1859, but 10 ID mot known by what
authority 1t was started. In 1765 Lord
Blaney, grand master Of England, char
tered q lodge at Joppa, which is now in
Hartford county, but which was then in
Baltimore county. In 1768 the Grand
Lodge OF Pennsylvania chartered lodge
at Georgetown, Kent county, Nd, and
afterwards lodge at 0hestertown. In
ITO two lodges were chartered by the
same authority In Baltimore. OPP to 1852
sir lodges had been established on the
Eastern Shore, namely, the two in Kent
county and one in Talbot, one in
Somerset, one in Dorchester and one in
Queen Anne's. In 1857 the Eastern
Shore lodges met at Talbot Court House,
now called Easton, and organized the
| Grand Lodge of Maryland. The Balti-
| more lodges were not represented OF the
organization. After the formation OF the
Grand Lodge the lodges which had been
established under the authority of the
Pennsylvania Grand Lodge surrendered
their charters TO that Grand Lodge, and
| recsived new warrants from the Maryland
Grand Lodge. The Maryland Grand
Lodge continued to meet at Talbot Court
House until 1894, when the head quarters
were moved 10 Baltimore, and the Grand
Lodge has met here continuously ever
since, with the exception Of the year 1905,
when the meeting took place at ERston.
It is not known what building the Grand
| Lodge met in until 1912, when the meet
| ings were held at Uoncordia lodge room,
iu the old watch.h uuHe which stood on
the site now occupied by the city hall.
In 1882 the meeting place was changed
to the Masonic Hall on st. Paul street,
now used by the city court. The present
temple on North Charles street was taken
possession of in 1868, tho cornerstone
having been laid November 20th, 1866, on
which occasion John II. b. Latrobe deliv-
cred notable Grafton, which was highly
commended by President johnson and
other distinguished guests. Among the
most prominent local historical events
with which Maryland Masonry is identi-
fed were the laying of the cornerstone of
Washington's monument, July 4th, 1916;
the laying of the first stone of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad, July 4th, 1928,
assisted by Charles Carroll of Oarrollton,
and the laying of the first stone of the
Baltimore and Susquehanna railroad
| Northern CentraD, August 8th, 1929. In
this year there were So subordinate lodges,
but during the excitement caused by the
anti Masonic movement brought about
by the groundless charges OF abduction
and assassination of William Morgan,
the order declined, until in 1S40 there
were only Is lodges in Maryland, with a
membership of less than 800. In 1881
the anti-Masonio party met in Baltimore
and nominated William Writ for Presi-
dent. He received but seven votes in the
electoral college, and they were cast by
Vermont. In May, 1913, the national
Masonic convention was held in Balti-
more, and in 1916 there was decided re-
val in Masonry. The next memorable
thing in Maryland Masonry was the lay
ing Of the corner stone of the new temple
as mentioned above. The trowel used ON
that occasion was the same that was used
by Grand Master Levin Winder In laying
the cornerstone of the old Masonic
Temple half century before, and the
gavel was the same that was used
by George Washington in laying the
foundation of the National Capitol. 1t is
roughly estimated that there are about
5000 Masons in Maryland, Coz, 900 in the
United States and 1000, 900 in the world